Improvement in letter-boxes



1. .1. neAnnv, T. 1. s. A. T LuNouv'lsT Letter- Box.

Patented Aug. 3|,1375.

NAPETERS. PHDTD-UTHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D C.

Nrrnn STATES JAMES J. DE BARRY, THORVALD ATEN J. LUNDQVIST, AND ALEXIUST.

IMPROVEMENT IN LETTER-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent lim-167,312, dated August31, 1875; application filed July 30, 1875.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES J. DE BARRY, THoRvALD J. LUNDQVIST, andALnxIUs T. LUNDQVIST, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLetter-Boxes, of which the following is a specication:

This invention relates to certain improvements in post-officeletter-boxes, its object being to prevent the extraction of the lettersthrough the mail-opening, and also to indicate the hours or time atwhich the letters are to be collected by the carrier.

The invention consists,iirst, in an automatically operating guardaffixed inside the box directly opposite the mail-opening, consisting ofWeighted rock-shaft extending across the box parallel with themail-opening, and provided with a series of radial arms, which areadapted to be shifted automatically by the insertion of a letter,allowing` the same to fall into the box, but oering an obstruction tothe insertion of any instrument for the fraudulent removal of theletters, as more fully hereinafter set forth; second, in thecombination, with the door of a letter-box, of an indicator for denotingthe time for collecting the mails, said device being operated by meansof a lever at each time the door is opened, in such manner as to exposea number indicating the time of the next collection of the mail, asfully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view of the interiorof the apparatus; Fig. 2, a front view of the apparatus; Fig. 3, a viewof the apparatus with the back removed, and Fig. 4 a sectional view ofthe apparatus.

The letter A represents a rectangular or other suitably-shaped box,constructed of any material of suitable strength; and B, the opening inthe front of the same for the insertion of the mail-matter. D representsarock-shaft, extending across the box parallel with the mail-opening,and journaled. in opposite sides of the box, as represented. Saidrock-shaft is provided with a series of three radial arms, E EI E2, andwith two weighted arms, F F.

Across the box, just below the mail-opening,

extends a bar, G, which serves as a stop to the arm E, for the purposeof holding the rock-shaft and its radial arms in proper position infront of the opening. rllhe letters, when inserted through themail-openin g, shift the arm E sufficiently to allow the same to dropinto the box, but in doing so bring the arms El and E2 into suchposition as to bar the opening against the insertion of any instrumentfor the removal of the letters or other mail-matter, and thus preventthe fraudulent extract-ion of the saine. The letter H represents acircular disk, journaled to the inside of the front of the box in suchposition as to display, successively, when turned, a series of numbersdenoting the hours or periods for collecting the mails through anopening, I, through the front wall of said box. Said disk is providedwith a series of pins, K K, on its rear surface, in number correspondingto the numbers on the face of the disk, against which pins aspring-pawl, L, secured to the end of a bent lever, M, which is pivotedto the inside of the box, is adapted to engage. The other end of saidlever extends downward, falling between the projections N N, attached tothe tilting door O in such position that it will be shifted back andforth upon opening and closing the door.

It will be seen that at each opening of the .door the lever will beshifted so that its upper end will clear the projection above it on theindicator-disk, and upon closing the door will engage such projections,and carry the disk forward, exposing the number indicating the time forthe next collection of mail. The in dicator-disk is held in position,and kept from being improperly shifted, by means of a spring, P,attached to the inside of the box, which successively engages in theratchets or teeth of the disk.

The letter R represents a rectangular wire box, which may be attached tothe lower part of the box A, and provided with a suitable opening largeenough for the reception of a newspaper or large package, for thepurpose of relieving the letter-box from the collection of such largearticles, the said box being prorricu vided with interior Wallsl of'Wood' Or other materiulto exclude rain Aand prevent `injuryto thecontents.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, substantially as described, of the mail-Opening B,rock-shaft D,

radial arms E E1 E2, Weighted arms F, and

stop-bar G, the Whole constructed and arranged to operate substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, with a street letter-box, provided with an opening,I, the rotating ratchet indicatingidisk, provided with a series -ofpins'on its rear face, the angle-lever M, Aand drop-door O, providedwith the `pins'N N,

for Operating said lever and ratchet-disk, sub- .stantiaily asdescribed.

JAMES J. DE BARRY. THORVALD J. LUNDQVIS'I. ALEXIUS TH. LUNDQVIST.

Witnesses:

J OHN P. TROY, THOMAS F. TROY.

